ejaculation

ejaculation — noun

1. the release of semen from the penis that occurs when a male person or animal rea

1.nounC1
Definition

the release of semen from the penis that occurs when a male person or animal reaches sexual climax

Example

The doctor explained that premature ejaculation affects many men at some point in their lives.

collocation: premature ejaculation

Ejaculation normally happens during the final phase of sexual activity known as the orgasm.

uncountable: referring to the process in general

Common collocations
  • premature ejaculation
  • delayed ejaculation
  • retrograde ejaculation
  • painful ejaculation
  • during ejaculation
  • after ejaculation
  • control ejaculation
  • delay ejaculation
Synonyms
  • emission (of semen)

    more clinical and technical; often used in medical literature for internal seminal release (e.g., nocturnal emission)

  • climax

    broader term referring to the peak of sexual pleasure, not specifically the physical release of semen

  • discharge

    much broader term applying to any fluid release from the body; lacks sexual specificity

Grammar Patterns

uncountable when referring to the process in general

countable when referring to a specific instance

Usage Note

This is the dominant modern meaning. When used uncountably, it refers to the biological process in general ('rapid ejaculation'). When used countably, it refers to a single event of semen release ('he experienced a painful ejaculation').

Common Mistakes

Ejaculation and orgasm are exactly the same thing.
Ejaculation is the release of semen, which usually happens during orgasm, but the two are separate biological events.
orgasm is the peak of sexual pleasure; ejaculation is the physical release, and they can occur independently.

2. a word or phrase that a person utters abruptly and with strong emotion, typical

2.nounC2
Definition

a word or phrase that a person utters abruptly and with strong emotion, typical in older literary works where characters cry out in anger or shock

Example

In the old novel, the angry general's sudden ejaculation startled the servants in the hall.

archaic register: literary context only

"What a foolish plan!" was the old man's surprised ejaculation upon hearing the proposal.

Common collocations
  • sudden ejaculation
  • angry ejaculation
  • passionate ejaculation
  • surprised ejaculation
  • an ejaculation of anger
  • an ejaculation of grief
Synonyms
  • exclamation

    the modern equivalent; a sudden cry or remark expressing strong emotion

  • outburst

    a sudden, strong expression of emotion, often anger; slightly more intense than exclamation

  • cry

    a loud inarticulate shout or call expressing strong emotion; more general in meaning

Antonyms
  • murmur

    a soft, quiet utterance, the opposite of a sudden loud exclamation

Grammar Patterns

countable: a + adjective + ejaculation

Usage Note

This sense is now highly formal or archaic in modern English. In contemporary speech and writing, words such as 'exclamation,' 'outburst,' or 'cry' are used instead. The physiological sense (sense 1) is the dominant meaning today, and using this sense in modern conversation may cause confusion or seem comically old-fashioned.

Common Mistakes

I can't believe it!" he said with an ejaculation.
I can't believe it!" he said with an exclamation.
in modern English, 'exclamation' or 'outburst' is the correct word for a sudden cry; 'ejaculation' in this sense is no longer used in everyday speech.

Word family

  • ejaculate
    verbC1
  • ejaculate
    nounC1
  • ejaculatory
    adjectiveC2
  • ejaculator
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Ejaculation and emission both involve the release of semen, but emission is a more clinical term that describes the internal movement of semen into the urethra, which can happen without sexual pleasure (e.g., nocturnal emission). Ejaculation specifically refers to the external expulsion that typically accompanies orgasm. Discharge is a much broader term covering any bodily fluid release — such as nasal discharge or vaginal discharge — and completely lacks sexual specificity. Climax refers to the overall peak of sexual pleasure and sensation, not the physical event of semen release. For example, a doctor might ask about 'nocturnal emission' but would diagnose 'premature ejaculation.' A person might say they 'reached climax' without necessarily mentioning ejaculation.

emission ↗climaxdischarge ↗

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word comes from Latin 'ēiaculārī', meaning 'to shoot out' — literally 'to throw out' (from 'ex-' meaning 'out' and 'iaculārī' meaning 'to throw', related to 'iacere' meaning 'to throw'). It entered English in the early 1600s carrying the general meaning of 'a sudden utterance' (now sense 2). The physiological meaning of 'semen release' (sense 1) developed later, in the mid-1800s, as medical terminology became more precise. For most of the 20th century the physiological sense became dominant, while the original utterance sense gradually faded from ordinary use.